Ah, of course, the normal gas station, up the hill. Ok, I get it; makes perfect sense. Somehow in my head I associated that convenience store with the marina. I was thinking "up on the hill" was code for "anywhere besides at the lake". I've always topped off up on the hill because I take the boat out every day while staying a Bullfrog, and have never had any problems with fuel contamination. The only issues I have had was the typical gag reflex at the price per gallon. But ya gotta pay to play, right?
Some random questions before departure
- Thread starter POk3s
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POk3s
Escalante-Class Member
@KYKevin , haha! Understood! I usually catch and save some sucker meat around here, but that’s about as far as I go for keeping my own bait.
@TPrice , these guys have it right. Here are the coordinates to the gas station. You can just copy and paste it into your Navionics search and see where it is.
37°31.223'N 110°43.526'W
@TPrice , these guys have it right. Here are the coordinates to the gas station. You can just copy and paste it into your Navionics search and see where it is.
37°31.223'N 110°43.526'W
gary miller
Active Member
They don't get mushy?
KKevin,
If you don't already, a easy way to get all the air out of the baggie is to zip it 3/4 closed then while holding it by the small opening lower the baggie into a sink (or bucket) of water. Zip the last quarter closed. The water will force all the air out and effectively you have vacuum packed the minnows. We did this for years in Alaska with salmon filets since our camp had no electricity. Works great and the product freezes well with little damage. Chuck
If you don't already, a easy way to get all the air out of the baggie is to zip it 3/4 closed then while holding it by the small opening lower the baggie into a sink (or bucket) of water. Zip the last quarter closed. The water will force all the air out and effectively you have vacuum packed the minnows. We did this for years in Alaska with salmon filets since our camp had no electricity. Works great and the product freezes well with little damage. Chuck
KYKevin
Keeper of San Juan Secrets
Chuck
That is a great idea, I will for sure try that next time. I wrap them in good freezer paper, and that keeps them from freezer burning. BUt the less air is for sure the key.
Thanks
KYKevin
Keeper of San Juan Secrets
The key to good minnows not getting mushy, is to trap them, or get them in a throw net, in ice cold water, and to take them strait home and put them up. If you get them in summer time or when there spawning, there soft, and will be mushy. I get them ice out or in the fall after the water gets cold again.
Sounds fun!! What species/ locations do you trap them??Pics of your trap??? We used to use a throw net in the Carribean, but would be hard where we have access!! Don't know if we still have the net????
Ticaboo gas station is closed. Hollow mountain has plenty of bait. Ive been using the Sinclair ethanol free at Bullfrog for the last month- no problems. Just got back yesterday. Trolling for stripers was slow- 3-5 fish per hour. Started trolling the main channel and found some huge schools. Theyre spooky but if you mark em, sneak back with the electric and chum heavily they go crazy. Caught 35 in an hour then ran outta bait.
KYKevin
Keeper of San Juan Secrets
They are Chub minnow specie, and I get them in a big pond in Huntington. I like to throw a net for Shad, but they are illegal to transport and get to soft anyway. I use to bring them home before I knew it wasn't legal. You can get these at Wallmart for $17 , and they pay for there self in one good trip.
kip
Dorado
Keeper of San Juan Secrets
salting them will definitely make them more firm and they will hold up better...and fish like salt! Its the freezing/thawing process that makes them mushy...but it Sounds like you have it pretty dialed in with your minnows, and you can't argue with success!
KYKevin
Keeper of San Juan Secrets
I have been told by others I need to salt them, I have tried many different things over the years, it was just a waste of time in my opinion. What I would try is some of that chartreuse stuff that they color nightcrawlers with. You can buy chartreuse crawlers on line, but they are expensive, but would try it on minnows for sure.
nzaugg
Keeper of San Juan Secrets
Is that a permanent or seasonal thing? They looked open when I went by in October, but the website for Ticaboo is dead at the moment. It would be nice if the state would fund power lines to Ticaboo and Bullfrog to reduce the cost of power so we might get some nice facilities in the area at some point...
I heard it is permanent from the lady at the hotel. She said it will be used for rentals now. I agree about the powerlines. I cant imagine the fuel costs to keep the lights on
POk3s
Escalante-Class Member
Oh this is exciting! My wife wants to sit there in the sun and catch stripers while I bait her hook with anchovies. I was hoping we could land on a school or two but didn’t know if we were going to be too early for that. Did you happen try try cut up striper meat? Doesn’t sound like you did, I just hate buying 7 bags of anchovies hahaha.
Also, does hole in the wall have plenty of firewood as well? They always seem to but I’d hate to bank on that.
Therer firewood at the stores in Hanksville. I never use striper meat. Its kinda early and most schools I found were in 35' of water and spooked easily. Theres a huge school down towards Lake Canyon by the islands on the left. They were in 45' of water. Hope you can find em! Id bring 15 bags minimum. Keep the chum flowing or theyll leave. Good Luck
POk3s
Escalante-Class Member
Ah…I envisioned they were suspended along the canyon walls like I found them last April. We will search everywhere but will keep in mind that they are in shallower water in the main channel. Thank you!
Did you happen to go north? That’s our plan. Hopefully camp in forgotten and hit the areas around there and head up to GHB if we need to.
Only went as far as Hansen. Mouth of Red never fails in April though. Trolled from Moki to Stanton twice. Only schools were by structure. Nothing on the walls which is my favorite
greyhackle
Escalante-Class Member
The way to salt minnows if someone decides they need it is to put about 1 cup of softener salt in 1 quart of water and put the minnows in over night before you’re going to use them. I wouldn’t use iodized salt or chlorinated water. Just creek or lake water. And softener or kosher salt. They need to be in it overnight to really toughen up.
KYKevin
Keeper of San Juan Secrets
If baiting her hook will get her back for a 2nd trip its worth it
And you all ways want to keep a woman expecting a baby happy
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